President urges equal rights, dignity for Christian community
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today called for ensuring the rights and dignity of the Christian community to build harmonious Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh does not want division and communalism in the name of religion. The return of autocracy and fascism is also never desirable, and a social movement must be built to prevent it," he said.
The President made the call as a 25-member delegation of the Christian Community, led by Assistant Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dhaka Subrata B. Gomes, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this noon, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told BSS.
During the meeting, the delegation raised various issues concerning the Christian community with the President and sought his cooperation in then matters.
The President said, "Bangladesh is the country of all citizens, where everyone is equal."
"It is of utmost importance to ensure that no citizen is deprived or discriminated against because of religious identity," he added.
He said the country's Christian community has been making important contributions in various fields, including education, health and social services, for a long time.
"Educational institutions, including Holy Cross, St Gregory's, St Joseph and Notre Dame, are playing an important role in maintaining the standard of higher education in the country and in human resource development," he noted.
The President urged community leaders to be active in properly presenting their reasonable problems concerning institutional management, land and property, among other matters. He assured them that he would play a role in resolving these problems.
He said everyone must work together to uphold the long tradition of mutual empathy and harmony among the people of Bangladesh and urged to take initiatives to preserve the languages, cultures and heritage of the various communities.
The President said the doors of the President's House are always open to all citizens of the country and urged the representatives of the Christian community to communicate him on any reasonable problem or issue.
Among others, the delegation included Senior Vice-Chairman of the Christian Religious Welfare Trust and reserved women's seat member of the Jatiya Sangsad Ms Anna Minj, Principal of Notre Dame College Father Hemanta Rozario, CSC, Vice-Chancellor of Notre Dame University Father Charles, Principal of Holy Cross College Sister Shikha Gomes, CSC, and Vice-Chairman of the Christian Religious Welfare Trust Advocate John Gomes.
The President's Military Secretary, Secretary and Press Secretary were present on the occasion.
